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Death Rates From Heart Disease, Cancer Fall In KC Area But Rise For Alzheimer's, Suicide

The leading causes of death in the metropolitan Kansas City area remain heart disease and cancer. Death rates for both, however, declined over the 10 years from 2003 to 2013 — as did the rates for most of the leading causes of death.

One notable exception: Rates of death from Alzheimer's disease rose slightly. Another notable exception: Suicides jumped nearly 30 percent. 

The tables below are from the 2015 Regional Health Assessment for Greater Kansas City, which was released last week. The Mid-America Regional Council assembled the data on behalf of the REACH Healthcare Foundation. 

Dan Margolies has been a reporter for the Kansas City Business Journal, The Kansas City Star, and KCUR Public Radio. He retired as a reporter in December 2022 after a 37-year journalism career.
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